Rev. Terry Jones: Quran Burning Off, "Right Now"

(CBS)  The Florida pastor behind a controversial plan to burn Muslim holy books on the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks told CBS News on Friday that the event was on hold, "right now".

Special Section: September 11 Remembered

Anti-Islamic preacher Rev. Terry Jones backed off his plans on Thursday and then threatened to reconsider burning the Qurans, angrily accusing local a Muslim leader of lying to him with a promise to move an Islamic center and away from New York's ground zero. The imam planning the center denied there was ever such a firm deal.


"Right now, we have called the event off, based upon the offer that the Imam gave us," Jones told "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith Friday morning.

The Imam who met Jones Thursday also appeared on "The Early Show" Friday. He told Smith the misunderstanding was due to ongoing efforts to secure a meeting with the figure behind the planned New York city Islamic center.

"We simply are in the process of a moving situation," Imam Muhammad
Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, told Smith. "The first part was the understanding with the pastor about what's being done in Gainesville, and the second part was to arrange for the meeting and fly over to New York and sit down with the man responsible for the project over there."

Asked whether that meeting was scheduled, Musri said he had received a "commitment for a meeting," but the exact timing was not yet arranged.

"I am, of course, as you can imagine, very, very disappointed because that is not what the Imam told me yesterday," Jones said in response. "We were very, very clear."

The pastor's remarks left open the possibility that he would reschedule the Quran burning for Saturday evening.

Musri said New York Islamic center project leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf would meet with himself and Jones, "to discuss the nature and the idea of moving the mosque."

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[AnonymousIV]

(Opening music to Twilight Zone) Imagine, if you will, King Kong about to pluck somebody up, cobra pilots, with the blades churning, circle the building. Somebody yells "Look in that cobra, it's Paris Hilton. (Paris screaming), you get the picture!!

[AnonymousIV]

Remember the guy in the sky scraper, looking out the window, and seeing a huge eyeball looking in. LOL

[sammygalkc]

What is so disturbing is this man is doing this while pastoring a church with the symbol of a dove, representing peace. There is nothing peaceful about his plans.

Threatening to burn any religions beliefs is disturbing. Here in America, I believe we had the Waco incident that was by Christian extremists, and we've have serial murders that also professed the Christian faith.

The people who participated in the 911 attacks were terrorists, who may have been Muslim, but that in no way calls for an attack against so many practicing their faith. They were terrorists, and what they did was sick. Likewise, Waco was done by extremists who are also murderers.

Call them what they were....terrorists. And, don't burn anything!

[grayfrier]

What gets me He is supposed to be a religious man a Preacher if that is so why is he projecting something so hateful it could get our People over there Attacked and Hurt Or Killed?
No real Preacher, Minister, Clergy, Pastor, Priest, Rabbi or Cleric would condone this except to start a Holy War.
We have made great inroads we are starting to win and now this man wants to incite more Killings and Attacks on our People over there No some one needs to stop this person he is not of Religion he is doing the Devils work and just maybe his right hand man.
Because if he thought it through he wouldn't even think twice to me if he go's ahead and does burn the Qur'an then he will start a Bloodbath in Afghanistan and more of are People will pay the price and he will go down as the Devil's own and if even one of our people die or get hurt because of it then to me he is a Target of Opportunity so after he Burns that book he had better leave this country because I will do what it takes to Deliver him to the Families of those Hurt or Killed because of his actions and let then administer true Justice!

[olyboy]

Burning books is stupid, but legal. Rioting in response is not just stupid, it is criminal. How can our press come out and suggest that the riots are in any way justified in response to this or cartoons or any other non-violent protest????

[slappy-jones]

Well, it comes down to how you view reality.

Are you willing to die to prove that extremists are homicidal maniacs?

[slappy-jones]

And to be technical, the book burning is not legal per local laws. He was denied a burn permit.

[DocD--2008]

So now he won't burn the Qurans "IF" they move the site for the mosque... Let's see, now the government has the right to intervene because he just attempted extortion openly in the press. I hope they arrest his ass as he deserves it. It proves this is all about making a name for himself and nothing more.

[jbeckett5]

This is a wannabe cult leader who is just trying to increase his power by getting attention. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans are falling for his stupid line. Insulting another religion needlessly is neither a Good Idea (morally right) nor a good idea (contributing to survival). He doesn't care who dies because of what he is doing, and the networks are going along with his scam because it gets viewers.

[curse914]

by adekunmi September 10, 2010 4:45 PM EDT
Finally. I DO NOT LIKE O-BAMA.... I think the President is having a sluggish and unguided look at the issue of the Mosque at the ground zero.... though I know it is two blocks away. I think it is not right because Why should the imam say it is either a mosque at ground zero or a jihad? Where is the $10 million building project coming from? Why should Palestinianshead of terrorist even be in the picture of the support? Freedom is given to non- threats... everyone is condemning the Florida pastor for burning Koran and the Imam is not condemned for threatening a jihad is the mosque is not built near ground zero... I thought Obama is a smart president... I think it is more about the event (Twin Towers.. September 11) not the freedom of religion.

[][]][]][][][][][][][]

Just a cursory understanding of the Constitution makes you look the fool.

We already had 8 years of a president who did not think much of the Constitution. It is about time we had one who understood its tenets.

[kamsack50]

Adekunmi
I agree. The imam in New York is now threatening jihad activity if the mosque is moved, and is not criticized for it by wimpy Americans.

[kamsack50]

Think a little, why don't you? The publicity is all due to media, like this one, who want to blow up the Islamist problem as one of Christians vs. Muslims when really it's secularism vs. Muslims.

[curse914]

Indeed, "The West" is a strawman for the inability of Muslims to elevate their people beyond knuckle dragging.

A holy war would give Jones purpose where it appears he has none.

[tomrobla]

The Muslims have right wing groups like the Taliban. The Christian right has lunatic crackpots like Rev Terry Jones. Neither group represents the majority of their religion.

[nansea5]

Religion is a man-made institution just like government. God and religion have nothing to do with each other.

[askagain]

nansea5 - I'm glad that you are an authority on religion. I guesss your opinion carries weight with the 30% of the American population who doesn't believe in GOD. Trouble is, you are out of sync with the 70% who do believe in god and religion. If I were a betting man, I'd go with the 70% who believe in a supreme being.